Open net-pen fish farms are large cages or nets placed in coastal waters, next to wild species. They are sometimes referred to as open -cage, -net, or -pen. They contain hundreds of thousands of fish. For the aquaculture industry, net-pen fish farms are an effective farming method, as they don’t need to worry about cleaning up waste, chemicals or diseases.

A growing consensus of scientists now believe they know the cause of the collapse of our salmon: open net-pen fish farms.

Here’s why:

Fish farms contain parasites, pollutants and deadly diseases. Open fish farms cannot contain or control the outflow of
waste from their facilities.

This means there is a free flow of dangerous parasites and pathogens between farms and the Pacific Ocean. These farms are located right in the middle of wild salmon migration routes and rearing grounds. The high density of foreign fish packed into a farm pen acts as a bio-amplifier, increasing contagious viruses in the water to passing salmon heading out to sea and to adult fish returning to spawn.

These diseases including the Piscine Reovirus (PRV) and sea lice. Salmon that pass close to open net-pen fish farms have substantially higher mortality rates than those who do not. [6]Price, M. H., Morton, A., & Reynolds, J. D. (2010). Evidence of farm-induced parasite infestations on wild juvenile salmon in multiple regions of coastal British Columbia, Canada. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 67(12), 1925-1932. doi:10.1139/f10-105

Experts agree. In 2018, the Auditor General of Canada found that open net-pen fish farms were hurting wild salmon, noting that

“Fisheries and Oceans Canada did not adequately manage the risks associated with salmon aquaculture consistent with its mandate to protect wild fish,”

and that the department had failed to enforce its mandate to protect wild species from disease, pesticides, waste, and invasive fish escapes. [7]2018 Spring Reports of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (Rep.). (2017, December 21). Retrieved May 14, 2019, from Office of the Auditor General of Canada website: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/att__e_42999.htmlBlood water from a farmed salmon processing plant flows right into B.C.’s largest wild salmon migration route.

But it’s not just salmon
that are at stake.

Dozens of iconic B.C. species, including eagles, bears, heron, sea lions and our endangered orcas all depend on salmon for food and their disappearance will irreversibly damage the ecosystem. [8]Vancouver Aquarium. (n.d.). Pacific Salmon. Retrieved May 10, 2019, from https://www.vanaqua.org/education/aquafacts/salmon

Once they’re gone, we can’t
undo the damage.

Fortunately, there is a solution.

By transitioning to closed-containment farms, B.C. will be able to future-proof the aquaculture industry, while protecting wild salmon.

It is essential that B.C. transitions to sustainable fish farming practices to ensure the longevity of both wild salmon stocks, and the local industry.

We can have
sustainable,
contained
aquaculture

It is the duty of all British Columbians to reduce the risk that open net-pen fish farms pose to wild Pacific salmon. Even if there wasn’t an alternative way to raise salmon for consumption, protecting this key-stone species is still the right thing to do.

Now is the opportunity here in British Columbia, not only to modernize our aquaculture industry, but to become global leaders in the practice while doing it.

B.C.’s salmon stocks are in drastic decline, and by continuing to allow open net-pen fish farms, this problem will only get worse. This decline will have far-reaching consequences and irreversibly impact eagles, bears, endangered orcas, and other species that rely on salmon.

Open net-pen fish farm in B.C.

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2. Mapes, L. (2018, January 30). Fish farm caused Atlantic salmon spill near San Juans, then tried to hide how bad it was, state says. Retrieved May 10, 2019, from https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/fish-farm-caused-atlantic-salmon-spill-state-says-then-tried-to-hide-how-bad-it-was/

7. 2018 Spring Reports of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (Rep.). (2017, December 21). Retrieved May 14, 2019, from Office of the Auditor General of Canada website: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/att__e_42999.html